Vehicle container, vehicle container door and system for assembling a door to a vehicle container

ABSTRACT

A system for assembling a door to a vehicle container having first and second pillars includes a first base adapted for connection to a top portion of the first pillar, a second base adapted for connection to a top portion of the second pillar, and a hinge assembly adapted for pivotally connecting the door to the vehicle container. The hinge assembly is adapted to be removably connected to the first and second bases and to the door. The hinge assembly is selected from first and second hinge assemblies. When the first hinge assembly pivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has a first pivoting configuration. When the second hinge assembly pivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has a second pivoting configuration being different from the first pivoting configuration. A vehicle container and a door for a vehicle container are also encompassed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/812,675, filed Mar. 1, 2019, entitled “VehicleContainer and Vehicle Container Door”, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present technology relates to vehicle containers, vehicle containerdoors, and to systems for assembling a door to a vehicle container.

BACKGROUND

Many vehicles, such as trucks, including pick-up trucks, and trailersare provided with a container for the transport of their cargo, whetherit is bulk materials or else. Such vehicle containers exist in differenttype, size and shape and generally have a door assembly to access theircontent. The door assembly includes a door that is, in many cases,pivotally connected to the vehicle container.

One example of such a vehicle container is a dump body for a truck. Dumpbodies are used for the transport of different materials, such as rocks,soil, sand, snow and the like. These dump bodies typically have acontainer that has an open top, and are typically pivotable relative tothe chassis of the truck to allow for their content to be emptied. Adump body has a door assembly including a door that is pivotallyconnected to the dump body to contain the materials therein. The door,also known as a tailgate plate, is selectively opened to empty thecontent of the dump body. Door assemblies can have different openingconfigurations in a dump body, such as single-action opening, high-liftgate opening and swing-gate opening. These different pivotingconfigurations require different types of hinge assemblies for pivotallyconnecting the door to the dump body.

In various vehicle containers, such as in dump bodies, the hingeassemblies typically have components welded to the vehicle container andto the door so as to provide for a sturdy connection of the doorassembly to the vehicle container. However, welding the components ofthe hinge assemblies to the vehicle container and the door presentsassembly challenges, notably due to possible alignment and fit issuesbetween the door and the container. Moreover, welding the components ofthe hinge assemblies to the vehicle container and the door also presentsthe drawback that the hinge assemblies are permanently connected to thevehicle container and to the door, which prevents convenient changing ofthe pivoting configuration of the door using a different hinge assembly.There is therefore a desire for improvements in the way the doorassemblies are pivotally connected to vehicle containers.

In various vehicle containers, such as in dump bodies, the fit betweenthe door and the container is difficult to adjust. Adjustment systemsexist, but they are typically located in hard to reach locations on thevehicle container, which makes adjusting the fit of the door to thevehicle container challenging. There is therefore a desire forimprovements in the way the position of a door can be adjusted relativeto the vehicle container to which it is connected.

Furthermore, in various vehicle containers, the door can be locked in aclosed position using a door latch system. Some door latch systems usehooks selectively engaging the door for locking and unlocking the doorto the vehicle container. The hooks are movable between the locked andunlocked position using one or more actuators. Door latch systems areexposed to debris and dust which may affect their operation, and in somecircumstances, may cause the hooks to not adequately move between thelocked and unlocked position. There is therefore a desire forimprovements in the way door latch systems are positioned and integratedto vehicle containers to improve their reliability.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present technology to ameliorate at least some ofthe inconveniences present in the prior art.

In some circumstances, the present technology facilitates the assemblyof a door to a vehicle container compared to conventional assemblysystems and methods. The present technology provides that the door isremovably connected to the vehicle container using hinge assemblies thatare fastened to both the door and the vehicle container. By usingfastened connections, some of the issues and drawbacks of conventionalassembly systems and methods that used welded connections are avoided.For example, the issues related to the stresses, deformations andwarpage induced by the welding of the hinge assemblies to the door areavoided. Using the present technology, the door has a better fitrelative to the vehicle container, which leads to shorter assemblytimes. Under some circumstances and as will be described below, thepresent technology also enables the door to be lighter and have anincreased service life compared to conventional doors having componentswelded thereto.

Having the hinge assemblies fastened to both the door and the vehiclecontainer also provides a user with flexibility for selecting thepivoting configuration of the door relative to the vehicle container. Incontrast with a hinge assembly that is welded to both the door and thevehicle container, the hinge assemblies of the present technology areremovably connected to the door and to the vehicle container. If needed,a user can unfasten a first hinge assembly from the door and/or vehiclecontainer and change the pivoting configuration of the door relative tothe vehicle container from a first configuration to a secondconfiguration by fastening a second hinge assembly to the door and tothe vehicle container, the second hinge assembly providing a pivotingconfiguration of the door that is different from the pivotingconfiguration provided by the first hinge assembly.

Another aspect of the present technology relates to a vehicle containerhaving a door pivotally connected to a vehicle container body via hingeassemblies that are fastened to the door and the vehicle container body.In contrast with conventional vehicle containers where the hingeassembly is welded to both the vehicle container body and the door, thepresent technology uses fastened connections and thus avoid thedrawbacks caused by welding, such as heat-related stresses, deformationsand warping in the door. In some embodiments, the door of the presenttechnology has several advantages over conventional doors, such as areduced mass, longer service life, no need to inspect and/or repairwelds, and a better fit to the vehicle container body.

Yet another aspect of the present technology relates to a vehiclecontainer having a door pivotally connected thereto and door latchsystem for locking the door in a closed position. The door latch systemincludes an extendible and retractable actuator pivotally connected tothe vehicle container body, a linkage assembly operatively connected tothe actuator, a rod operatively connected to the linkage assembly, therod being pivotable about an axis upon extension and retraction of theactuator. The door latch system further includes at least one hookconnected to the rod, the at least one hook being received and withdrawnfrom the at least one recess of the door by pivoting the rod about theaxis, and at least one pin removably fastened to the door, the at leastone pin being movable relative to the door. By having the at least onepin fastened to the door and moveable relative to the door, adjustmentof the door latch system is facilitated compared to conventional doorlatch systems. In some embodiments, the at least one pin is convenientlyaccessible for a rear side of the vehicle container, and is movablerelative to the door by screwing or unscrewing an adjustment screw.There is thus no need for adjusting the position of the axis about whichthe rod pivots using an eccentric assembly, which is typically difficultto access and adjust. Moreover, using the door latch system of thepresent technology in combination with hinge assemblies fastened to thedoor and the vehicle container permits the adjustment of the position ofthe door relative to the vehicle container in a heightwise direction.

These features and additional features of the present technology will bedescribed in more details below.

According to one aspect of the present technology, there is provided asystem for assembling a door to a vehicle container. The vehiclecontainer has a container body, a first pillar connected to thecontainer body, and a second pillar connected to the container body. Thevehicle container has an opening providing access to an interior of thecontainer body. The opening is defined between the first and secondpillars, and the door selectively closes the opening. The systemincludes a first base adapted for connection to a top portion of thefirst pillar, a second base adapted for connection to a top portion ofthe second pillar, and a hinge assembly adapted for pivotally connectingthe door to the vehicle container. The hinge assembly is adapted to beremovably connected to the first and second bases and to the door. Thehinge assembly is selected from a first hinge assembly, and a secondhinge assembly. When the first hinge assembly pivotally connects thedoor to the vehicle container, the door has a first pivotingconfiguration and when the second hinge assembly pivotally connects thedoor to the vehicle container, the door has a second pivotingconfiguration being different from the first pivoting configuration.

In some embodiments, the first hinge assembly includes a first lefthinge assembly having a first left adapter assembly adapted to beremovably connected to the first base, a first left pillar bracketadapted to be removably connected to the first left adapter assembly,and a first left door bracket adapted to be removably connected to thedoor. The first hinge assembly further has a first right hinge assemblyhaving a first right adapter assembly adapted to be removably connectedto the second base, a first right pillar bracket adapted to be removablyconnected to the first right adapter assembly, and a first right doorbracket adapted to be removably connected to the door. The second hingeassembly includes a second left hinge assembly having a second leftadapter assembly adapted to be removably connected to the first base, asecond left pillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to thesecond left adapter assembly, and a second left door bracket adapted tobe removably connected to the door. The second hinge assembly furtherhas a second right hinge assembly having a second right adapter assemblyadapted to be removably connected to the second base, a second rightpillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to the second rightadapter assembly, and a second right door bracket adapted to beremovably connected to the door. The first left pillar bracket isidentical to the second left pillar bracket, and the first right pillarbracket is identical to the second right pillar bracket.

In some embodiments, the first left pillar bracket is identical to thefirst right pillar bracket.

In some embodiments, the first left adapter assembly is identical to thefirst right adapter assembly, and the second left adapter assembly isidentical to the second right adapter assembly.

In some embodiments, éthe first left door bracket is identical to thesecond left door bracket, and the first right door bracket is identicalto the second right door bracket.

In some embodiments, when in use, the first left pillar bracket and thesecond left pillar bracket are located at different positions relativeto the first base, and, when in use, the first right pillar bracket andthe second right pillar bracket are located at different positionsrelative to the second base.

In some embodiments, the first hinge assembly is a single-action openinghinge assembly. The first left door bracket is pivotally connected tothe first left pillar bracket, and the first right door bracket ispivotally connected to the first right pillar bracket.

In some embodiments, the second hinge assembly is a high-lift gateopening hinge assembly further including a left extension arm pivotallyconnected between the second left door bracket and the second leftpillar bracket, a right extension arm pivotally connected between thesecond right door bracket and the second right pillar bracket, and atleast one actuator assembly having upper and lower ends. The lower endis pivotally connected to one of the first and second pillars. The upperend is pivotally connected to one of the left and right extension arms.The actuator assembly includes an extendible and retractable actuatorbeing operable for pivoting the door away from the first and secondpillars when moved to an extended position, and pivoting the doortowards the first and second pillars when moved to a retracted position.

In some embodiments, the hinge assembly is selected from the first hingeassembly, the second hinge assembly and a third hinge assembly providingfor a third pivoting configuration of the door relative to the vehiclecontainer, the third pivoting configuration being different from thefirst and second pivoting configurations. The third hinge assemblyincludes a third left hinge assembly having a third left adapterassembly adapted to be removably connected to the first base, a thirdleft pillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to the third leftadapter assembly, and a third left door bracket adapted to be removablyconnected to the door. The third hinge assembly further has a thirdright hinge assembly having a third right adapter assembly adapted to beremovably connected to the second base, a third right pillar bracketadapted to be removably connected to the third right adapter assembly,and a third right door bracket adapted to be removably connected to thedoor. The third left pillar bracket is different from the third rightpillar bracket, and the third left door bracket is different from thethird right door bracket.

In some embodiments, the third hinge assembly is a swing-gate openinghinge assembly. The third left pillar bracket is an upper left pillarbracket. The third right pillar bracket is an upper right pillarbracket. The third left door bracket is an upper left door bracket. Thethird right door bracket is an upper right door bracket. The third hingeassembly further includes at least one of a lower left pillar bracketadapted to be removably connected to the first pillar below the upperleft pillar bracket, and a lower right pillar bracket adapted to beremovably connected to the second pillar below the upper right pillarbracket. The door is pivotally connected to the vehicle container via atleast one of the upper left pillar bracket and the lower left pillarbracket, and the upper right pillar bracket and the lower right pillarbracket.

In some embodiments, when in use, any one of the first, second and thirdleft adapter assemblies defines at least partially a top face of thefirst pillar, and, when in use, any one of the first, second and thirdright adapter assemblies defines at least partially a top face of thesecond pillar.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a left adjusterassembly for adjusting a position of any one of the first, second andthird left pillar bracket relative to the corresponding first, second orthird left adapter assembly, and a right adjuster assembly for adjustinga position of any one of the first, second and third right pillarbracket relative to the corresponding first, second or third rightadapter assembly.

In some embodiments, the left adjuster assembly adjusts the position ofany one of the first, second and third left pillar bracket relative tothe corresponding first, second or third left adapter assembly in alengthwise direction of the vehicle container, and the right adjusterassembly adjusts a position of any one of the first, second and thirdright pillar bracket relative to the corresponding first, second orthird right adapter assembly in the lengthwise direction of the vehiclecontainer.

In some embodiments, the system further includes at least one adjustmentscrew assembly connected to the door for adjusting a position of thedoor relative to the vehicle container.

In some embodiments, the first base is a left base, the first pillar isa left pillar, the second base is a right base, the second pillar is aright pillar, and the container body includes a floor, a front wallconnected to a front end of the floor and extending upwardly from thefloor, a left side wall connected to the floor and the front wall. Theleft side wall extends upwardly from a left side of the floor andrearward of the front wall. The left pillar is connected to the leftside wall and to a rear end of the floor. The left pillar extendsupwardly from the rear end of the floor and rearward of the left sidewall. The container body further includes a right side wall connected tothe floor and the front wall, the right side wall extending upwardlyfrom a right side of the floor and rearward of the front wall, the rightpillar being connected to the right side wall and to the rear end of thefloor, the right pillar extending upwardly from the rear end of thefloor and rearward of the right side wall.

In some embodiments, the vehicle container is a dump body for a truck.

In some embodiments, the door is a tailgate plate.

According to another aspect if the present technology, there is provideda system for assembling a family of vehicle containers. The systemincludes a vehicle container having a container body, a first pillarconnected to the container body, a first base connected to a top portionof the first pillar, a second pillar connected to the container body,and a second base connected to a top portion of the second pillar. Thesystem further includes a door assembly for selectively closing anopening defined between the first and second pillars, the openingproviding access to an interior of the vehicle container. The doorassembly including a door. The system further includes a hinge assemblyadapted for pivotally connecting the door to the vehicle container, thehinge assembly being adapted to be removably connected to the first andsecond bases and to the door. The hinge assembly is selected from afirst hinge assembly, and a second hinge assembly. When the first hingeassembly pivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the doorhas a first pivoting configuration and when the second hinge assemblypivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has asecond pivoting configuration being different from the first pivotingconfiguration.

There is also provided a vehicle container assembled according to thesystem described above.

There is also provided a truck having a frame, a cab connected to theframe, a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the frame, and thevehicle container described above connected to the frame.

According to yet another aspect of the present technology, there isprovided a method for changing a pivoting configuration of a doorpivotally connected to a top portion of a pillar of a vehicle containervia a first hinge assembly. The method involves unfastening the firsthinge assembly from at least one of the door and the top portion of thepillar of the vehicle container, fastening a second hinge assembly tothe at least one of the door and the top portion of the pillar of thevehicle container, and pivotally connecting the door to the vehiclecontainer using the second hinge assembly, the second hinge assemblyproviding a pivoting configuration of the door that is different fromthe pivoting configuration provided by the first hinge assembly.

According to yet another aspect of the present technology, there isprovided a door for a vehicle container. The door includes a panelhaving left and right bent portions, and a lower bent portion. The paneldefines holes in the left and right bent portions and in the lower bentportion for receiving fasteners. The door further includes a portion ofa hinge assembly removably connected to the panel by the fasteners.

In some embodiments, the portion of a hinge assembly includes at leastone of a left lower bracket removably fastened to the left bent portionand to the lower bent portion, and a right lower bracket removablyfastened to the right bent portion and to the lower bent portion.

In some embodiments, the at least one of the left lower bracket and theright lower bracket includes an adjustment screw assembly for adjustinga position of the door relative to the vehicle container.

In some embodiments, the panel further comprises an upper bent portion,and the portion of a hinge assembly further includes a left upperbracket removably fastened to the left bent portion and to the upperbent portion, and a right upper bracket removably fastened to the rightbent portion and to the upper bent portion.

According to yet another aspect of the present technology, there isprovided a vehicle container including a vehicle container body, a doorpivotally connected the vehicle container body, and a screw adjustmentassembly removably connected to the door for adjusting a position of thedoor relative to the vehicle container body.

In some embodiments, the vehicle container further has a door latchsystem for locking the door to the vehicle container body when the dooris in a closed position. the door latch system includes an extendibleand retractable actuator pivotally connected to the vehicle containerbody, a linkage assembly operatively connected to the actuator, a rodoperatively connected to the linkage assembly, the rod being pivotableabout an axis upon extension and retraction of the actuator, and a hookconnected to the rod, the hook being moved between a locked position andan unlocked position by pivoting the rod about the axis, and the screwadjustment assembly includes a pin removably fastened to the door, thepin being movable relative to the door and catchable by the hook.

In some embodiments, the pin is threadably connected to the door.

In some embodiments, the screw adjustment assembly includes anadjustment screw connected to the pin, and a cap, the cap having aprojection for preventing a rotation of the adjustment screw.

In some embodiments, the hook has a tapered shape.

In some embodiments, the screw adjustment assembly cooperates with thehook to adjust the position of the door relative to the vehiclecontainer body in a heightwise direction.

In some embodiments, the screw adjustment assembly is accessible from arear side of the door.

In some embodiments, the screw adjustment assembly adjusts the positionof the door relative to the vehicle container in a lengthwise direction.

According to yet another aspect of the present technology, there isprovided a vehicle container including a vehicle container body definingan opening, a door pivotally connected to the vehicle container body andselectively closing the opening when pivoted in a closed position, thedoor defining at least one recess, and a door latch system for lockingthe door to the vehicle container body in the closed position. The doorlatch system includes an extendible and retractable actuator pivotallyconnected to the vehicle container body, a linkage assembly operativelyconnected to the actuator, a rod operatively connected to the linkageassembly, the rod being pivotable about an axis upon extension andretraction of the actuator, at least one hook connected to the rod, theat least one hook being received and withdrawn from the at least onerecess of the door by pivoting the rod about the axis, and at least onepin removably fastened to the door and extending in the at least onerecess, the at least one pin being selectively movable relative to thedoor.

In some embodiments, the at least one pin is threadably connected to thedoor.

In some embodiments, the linkage assembly includes a base connected tothe vehicle container body, a first link pivotally connected to the baseby a first pivot axis, a second link pivotally connected to the firstlink by a second pivot axis, and a rod link pivotally connected to thesecond link by a third pivot axis, and the rod link being furtherconnected to the rod.

In some embodiments, when the at least one hook is in an unlockedposition, the second pivot axis is on a first side of an imaginary linepassing through the first and third pivot axes, and when the at leastone hook is in a locked position, the second pivot axis is on a secondside of the imaginary line, the second side being opposite the firstside. The over-center configuration of the linkage assembly clamps thedoor latch system in the locked position.

In some embodiments, the at least one hook has a tapered shape.

In some embodiments, the vehicle container further includes a stopconnected to the at least one hook, the stop being structured to abutthe vehicle container body when the at least one hook is fully withdrawnfrom the at least one recess of the door.

For purposes of the present application, terms related to spatialorientation such as front, rear, left and right should be understood asthey would normally be understood by a driver of a truck having avehicle container sitting in the truck in a normal driving position withthe vehicle container in a lowered position.

Embodiments of the present technology each have at least one of theabove-mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have allof them. It should be understood that some aspects of the presenttechnology that have resulted from attempting to attain theabove-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfyother objects not specifically recited herein.

Additional and/or alternative features, aspects and advantages ofembodiments of the present technology will become apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present technology, as well as otheraspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a left side elevation view of a truck having a vehiclecontainer, which is a dump body;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken from a top, rear, left side of thevehicle container of FIG. 1, with a hinge assembly adapted forsingle-action opening of a door, and with the door in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view taken from a top, rear, left side of a rearportion of the vehicle container of FIG. 2, with the door pivoted in anopen position;

FIG. 4 is a close-up, exploded, perspective view taken from a top, rear,left side of an upper left hinge assembly of the vehicle container ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5A is a partly exploded, perspective view taken from a top, rear,right side of the door of FIG. 2, with left and right door brackets andleft and right adjustment screw assemblies connected thereto;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of portion 5B of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of portion 5C of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a partly exploded, perspective view taken from a top, front,left side of a door latch system of the vehicle container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of portion 6B of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a left side elevation view of the door latch system of FIG.6A, with the door and the vehicle container of FIG. 2, with the leftside wall of the vehicle container removed and the door latch system inan unlocked position;

FIG. 6D is a perspective view taken from a front, left side of the doorlatch system, door and vehicle container of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 6E is a left side elevation view of the door latch system, the doorand the vehicle container of FIG. 6C, with the door latch system in alocked position;

FIG. 6F is a perspective view taken from a front, left side of the doorlatch system, door and vehicle container of FIG. 6E;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view taken from top, rear, right side of a rearportion of the vehicle container of FIG. 1 having a hinge assemblyadapted for a high-lift gate opening of the door, with the door in anopen position;

FIG. 8 is a close-up, exploded, perspective view taken from a top, rear,left side of an upper left hinge assembly of the hinge assembly of FIG.7, with an actuator assembly shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view taken from a top, rear, right side of arear portion of the vehicle container of FIG. 1 having a hinge assemblyadapted for a swing-gate opening of the door, with the door in an openposition;

FIG. 10 is a partly exploded, perspective view taken from a top, rear,left side of a rear portion of the vehicle container and hinge assemblyof FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a method for changing a pivoting configurationof a door pivotally connected to a top portion of a pillar of a vehiclecontainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a truck 10. The truck 10 has a frame12. A cab 14 is connected to a front of the frame 12. Two steerablefront wheels 16 (only one of which is shown) are connected to the frame12 at a front thereof. Four rear wheels 18 (two on the right, two on theleft, only one of which is shown) are connected to the frame 12 at arear thereof. Four intermediate wheels 20 (two on the right, two on theleft, only one of which is shown) are connected to the frame 12 at aposition forward of the rear wheels 18. It is contemplated that thetruck 10 could have more or less wheels than described above.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a vehicle container 40, which in the presentembodiment of the technology is a dump body, is pivotally connected tothe frame 12 at a rear thereof. The vehicle container 40 has an opening41 a defined at a rear thereof. The opening 41 a provides access to aninterior 41 b of the vehicle container 40. A door assembly 102 includinga door 110, which in the present embodiment of the technology is atailgate plate, is pivotally connected to the vehicle container 40. Thedoor 110 selectively closes the opening 41 a, and thus selectivelyprovides access to the interior 41 b of the vehicle container 40. Thevehicle container 40 can pivot between a lowered position (shown inFIG. 1) and a raised position as indicated by line 24. In the raisedposition, the vehicle container 40 can empty its content through therear opening 41 a thereof when the door 110 is moved in an openposition, as shown in FIG. 3. A hydraulic actuator 26 is pivotallyconnected to the frame 12 and to the front of the vehicle container 40.The hydraulic actuator 26 can extend to pivot the vehicle container 40to the raised position and can retract to return the vehicle container40 to the lowered position. The above description of a truck 10 is onlyone possible embodiment of a truck. It is contemplated that otherembodiments of the truck 10 may have a different system and/orconfiguration for pivoting the vehicle container 40, such as a trunnionmount, pin-to-pin, hook lift, underbody hoist, and roll offconfigurations, among others.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 to 10, a system 100 forassembling a door 110 to a vehicle container 40 will be described.Although described in the present description with reference to the dumpbody and the tailgate plate shown in the accompanying Figures, thesystem 100 could be used to assemble a door 110 of a different type,size and shape to the one described herein to a vehicle container 40 ofa different type, size and shape to the one described herein. Forinstance, the system 100 could be used for assembling a door 110 to avehicle container 40 that has its opening 41 a defined in the front oron the side of the vehicle container 40, and not necessarily at the rearthereof. Moreover, the system 100 could be used to assemble a door 110to a vehicle container 40 of a different type, size and shape, such asand not limited to, a shipping container, a bed of a pick-up truck, atrailer for a truck, a cargo box, etc. As such, many other embodimentsof the present technology are contemplated, and the present technologyis not limited to what is about to be described in the presentdescription with reference to the dump body that is pivotally connectedto the truck 10 of FIG. 1. Generally described, the system 100 allowsfor the pivotal connection of a door 110 to a vehicle container 40 usinga hinge assembly 200 selected from a plurality of hinge assemblies, witheach hinge assembly providing for a different pivoting configuration ofthe door 110 relative to the vehicle container 40. As will becomeapparent from the description below, each of the plurality of hingeassemblies 200 is removably connected to the vehicle container 40 and tothe door 110, and, in some embodiments of the present technology, theplurality of hinge assemblies 200 share common components.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 to 10, a system 400 for assemblinga family of vehicle containers 40 will also be described. The system 400allows the assembly of a family of vehicle containers 40 usingcomponents common to every member of the family, and in some cases,additional components found in only some members of the family. Thesystem 400 includes the vehicle container 40, which is common to everymember of the family of containers, and the door assembly 102 whichcloses the opening 41 a of the vehicle container 40, and selectivelygrants access to the interior 41 b of the vehicle container 40. The doorassembly 102 is also common to every member of the family of vehiclecontainers 40. The system 400 also includes a hinge assembly 200 adaptedfor pivotally connecting the door 110 of the door assembly 102 to thevehicle container 40. As mentioned above, in the present embodiment, thedoor 110 is a tailgate plate and, as in the system 100, the hingeassembly 200 is adapted to be removably connected to the vehiclecontainer 40 and the door 110. Although described in the presentdescription with reference to the dump body and the tailgate plate shownin the accompanying Figures, the system 400 could be used to assemble afamily of vehicle containers 40 of various type, size and shape, such asand not limited to, a shipping container, a bed of a pick-up truck, atrailer for a truck, a cargo box, etc. As such, many other embodimentsare contemplated and the present technology is not limited to what isabout to be described in the present description with reference to thedump body that is pivotally connected to the truck 10 of FIG. 1.

Still referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 to 10 and as indicated above, inboth systems 100, 400, the hinge assembly 200 is selected from aplurality of hinge assemblies. In the embodiments described in thepresent description, the hinge assembly 200 is selected from asingle-action opening hinge assembly 200 a shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, ahigh-lift gate opening hinge assembly 200 b shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, anda swing-gate opening hinge assembly 200 c shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Otherhinge assemblies, such as a double action hinge assembly, arecontemplated to be used in the systems 100, 400. Each of the hingeassemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 c provides for a different pivotingconfiguration of the door 110 relative to the vehicle container 40.

Since the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 c are removably connectedto the vehicle container 40 and the door 110, the systems 100, 400allow, in some circumstances, more convenient connection of the doorassembly 102 to the vehicle container 40 compared to conventionalwelding of the components of the door assembly 102, which leads toshorter assembly times. Moreover, the systems 100, 400 also allow, insome circumstances, convenient change of the pivoting configuration ofthe door 110 relative to the vehicle container 40, which leads togreater flexibility for a user as the configuration of the pivoting ofthe door 110 can be conveniently changed if needed. Furthermore, as willbecome apparent from the following description, the system 100, 400 alsoallow, in some embodiments, the adjustment of the position of the door110 relative to the vehicle container 40 along at least one axis definedconsistently with at least one of a lengthwise direction 52, a widthwisedirection 54, and a heightwise direction 56 of the vehicle container 40(FIG. 2). Such adjustment of the position of the door 110 relative tothe vehicle container 40 may lead, in some circumstances, to a betterfit of the door 110 relative to the vehicle container 40.

It is to be noted that the following description is applicable to bothsystems 100, 400. Before describing in more details the systems 100, 400and the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, the vehicle container 40and the door assembly 102, which includes the door 110, will first bedescribed.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the vehicle container 40 has a floor 42.The floor 42 has a front end 44 and a rear end 46. The floor 42 also hasa left side 48 and a right side 50. A front wall 60 is connected to thefront end 44 of the floor 42 and extends upwardly from the floor 42. Aleft side wall 70 l is connected to the floor 42 and to the front wall60. The left side wall 70 l extends upwardly from the left side 48 ofthe floor 42 and rearward of the front wall 60. A rear left pillar 72 lis connected to the left side wall 70 l and to the rear end 46 of thefloor 42. The rear left pillar 72 l extends upwardly from the rear end46 of the floor 42 and rearward of the left side wall 70 l. In otherembodiments, the rear left pillar 72 l could be slanted forwardly withrespect to the rear end 46 of the floor 42. In other embodiments, therear left pillar 72 l could be integral to the left side wall 70 land/or the floor 42. In yet other embodiments, the rear left pillar 72 lcould have a height similar to that of the left side wall 70 l. A leftbase 80 l (FIGS. 3 and 4) is connected to a top portion 82 l of the rearleft pillar 72 l. The left base 80 l defines threaded holes 84 forreceiving fasteners of the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 c whichwill be described below. In the present embodiment, the left base 80 lis welded to the rear left pillar 72 l and permits the removableconnection of the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 c to the vehiclecontainer 40.

Still referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the vehicle container 40 also has aright side wall 70 r connected to the floor 42 and to the front wall 60.The right side wall 70 r extends upwardly from the right side 50 of thefloor 42 and rearward of the front wall 60. A rear right pillar 72 r isconnected to the right side wall 70 r and the rear end 46 of the floor42. The rear right pillar 72 r extends upwardly from the rear end 46 ofthe floor 42 and rearward of the right side wall 70 r. In otherembodiments, the rear right pillar 72 r could be slanted forwardly withrespect to the rear end 46 of the floor 42. In other embodiments, therear right pillar 72 r could be integral to the right side wall 70 rand/or the floor 42. In yet other embodiments, the rear right pillar 72r could have a height similar to that of the right side wall 70 r. Aright base 80 r is connected to a top portion 82 r of the rear rightpillar 72 r (FIG. 7). The right base 80 r also defines threaded holes 84for receiving fasteners of the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 cwhich will also be described below. In the present embodiment, the rightbase 80 r is welded to the rear right pillar 72 r and permits theremovable connection of the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b, 200 c to thevehicle container 40.

The opening 41 a of the vehicle container 40 closed by the door 110 isdefined by the rear end 46 of the floor 42 and the left and right rearpillars 72 l, 72 r. Together, the floor 42, the front wall 60 and theside walls 70 l, 70 r define a body 41 c (FIG. 2) of the vehiclecontainer 40, to which are connected the pillars 72 l, 72 r. In otherembodiments, the vehicle container 40 could have a top wall and/or theopening 41 a could be defined in one of the left side wall 70 l, theright side wall 70 r, and the front wall 60.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cab cover 86 is connected to the top of the frontwall 60 and extends forwardly thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 1, whenthe vehicle container 40 is in the lowered position, the cab cover 86extends over the top of the rear portion of the cab 14. It iscontemplated that the cab cover 86 could be omitted. A ladder 88 isconnected to the front of the left side wall 70 l of the vehiclecontainer 40. It is contemplated that the ladder 88 could be connectedelsewhere on the vehicle container 40. It is also contemplated that theladder 88 could be omitted.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the front wall 60 defines a hoist well 90 at acenter thereof. A pair of brackets (not shown) is connected to the frontof the front wall 60 near a bottom thereof in alignment with the hoistwell 90. The hydraulic actuator 26 is received in the hoist well 90between the brackets. The hydraulic cylinder 26 is pivotally connectedto the brackets. As mentioned above, the hydraulic cylinder 26 isconnected at its lower end to the frame 12. It is contemplated that thefront wall 60 could not be provided with the hoist well 90, in whichcase the hydraulic actuator 26 would be provided completely in front ofthe front wall 60. It is contemplated that the hydraulic actuator 26could be mounted between the frame 12 and the vehicle container 40 inother ways.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the door assembly 102 includes the door 110which is dimensioned to extend across the rear of the vehicle container40 and overlap the rear left and right pillars 72 l, 72 r for closingthe opening 41 a. When the vehicle container 40 is in the loweredposition, the door 110 abuts the rear side of the rear pillars 72 l, 72r. When the vehicle container 40 is pivoted to the raised position, thedoor 110 pivots away from the rear pillars 72 l, 72 r by gravity, asshown in FIG. 3. The door 110 is a panel 111 having an upper leftportion 1121, an upper right portion 112 r, a lower left portion 114 l,and a lower right portion 114 r. The panel 111 further has a bent leftportion 116 l, a bent right portion 116 r, an upper bent portion 118,and a lower bent portion 120 (FIG. 5A). It is contemplated that in otherembodiments, the door assembly 102 could further include additionalaccessories, such as an inspection door, removably connected to thepanel 111 of the door 110.

Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6F, the vehicle container 40 further includes adoor latch system 150 adapted to lock the door 110 in the closedposition, i.e. against the rear pillars 72 l, 72 r. The door latchsystem 150 includes an extendible and retractable actuator 152 pivotallyconnected to a bottom face of the floor 42 of the vehicle container 40via an actuator bracket 152 a. The actuator 152 is a pneumatic actuator,but it is contemplated that the actuator could be an electric, hydraulicor a manual actuator in other embodiments. The actuator 152 isoperatively connected to a linkage assembly 160 including clevis pins162 and links 164. The actuator 152 and the linkage assembly 160 arepositioned below the bottom face of the floor 42 and above a bottom wallof the vehicle container 40. The actuator 152 and the linkage assembly160 are thus at least partially sheltered from debris and dust. A base164 a is connected to the floor 42 of the vehicle container 40. A lowerlink 164 b is pivotally connected to the base 164 a via the clevis pin162 a. An upper link 164 c is pivotally connected to the lower link 164b and to a threaded link 164 d via a clevis pin 162 b. The threaded link164 d is threadably connected to a rod 152 b of the actuator 152. Theupper link 164 c is pivotally connected to a rod link 164 e via a clevispin 162 c. The clevis pins 162 a, 162 b, 162 c define three pivot axes.The pivot axes are represented as + signs in FIGS. 6C and 6E. A rod 166is connected to the rod link 164 e. The rod 166 is pivotally connectedto a bracket 166 a connected to the floor 42 and to the base 164 a.Grease ports 166 b are connected to the bracket 166 a for injectinggrease between the rod 166 and the bracket 166 a. Self-lubricating rings166 c are disposed between the bracket 166 a and the rod 166, andbetween the rod 166 and the left and right side walls 70 l, 70 r inorder to facilitate the pivoting of the rod 166. Left and right hooks168 are connected to the rod 166. The left and right hooks 168 have atapered shape. The rod 166 is pivotable about an axis 170. Pins 172 areconnected to the door 110 and extend in recesses 174 defined in the door110. Upon extension and retraction of the actuator 152 via the linkageassembly 160, the rod 166 pivots about the axis 170 and the hooks 168catch or release the pins 172, thereby locking and unlocking the door110 in the closed position. The left and right hooks 168 have a stop 168a structured to abut the floor 42 of the vehicle container 40 when fullypivoted to the unlocked position seen in FIGS. 6C and 6D.

Referring to FIGS. 6C and 6D, when the actuator 152 is retracted, thehooks 168 are pivoted about the axis 170 in the unlocked position andare received in the rear pillars 72 l, 72 r. The hooks 168 are withdrawnfrom the recesses 174 and release the pins 172, thereby unlocking thedoor 110 from the vehicle container 40 and allowing it to pivot in theopen position shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 10. Referring to FIGS. 6E and 6F,when the actuator 152 is extended, the hooks 168 are pivoted about theaxis 170 so as to project outwardly of the rear pillars 72 l, 72 r. Thehooks 168 are received in the recesses 174 and catch the pins 172,thereby locking the door 110 to the vehicle container 40 in the closedposition.

It is to be noted that when the actuator 152 is retracted to theposition shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D (i.e. the hooks 168 are in theunlocked position), the link 164 d is moved forward and the pivot axisof the clevis pin 162 b is on a front side of an imaginary line 162 dpassing through the pivot axis of the clevis pin 162 a and the pivotaxis of the clevis pin 162 c. When the actuator 152 is extended to theposition shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F (i.e. the hooks 168 are in the lockedposition), the link 164 d is moved rearward and the pivot axis of theclevis pin 162 b is on a rear side of the imaginary line 162 d passingthrough the pivot axis of the clevis pin 162 a and the pivot axis of theclevis pin 162 c. This over-center configuration of the linkage assembly160 clamps the door latch system 150 in the locked position. This way,the actuator 152 does not have to exert any force to keep the door latchsystem 150 in the locked position, and the hooks 168 are prevented frompivoting from the locked position (FIGS. 6E and 6F) to the unlockedposition (FIGS. 6C and 6D). Other types of door latch systems could beused in other embodiments.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 to 4, the hinge assembly 200 a will bedescribed in more details. As mentioned above, the hinge assembly 200 aprovides for a single-action opening of the door 110, as shown in FIG.3. The hinge assembly 200 a includes a left hinge assembly 202 l and aright hinge assembly 202 r. In the present embodiment, the left andright hinge assemblies 202 l, 202 r are mirror images and have somecomponents that are identical in both hinge assemblies 202 l, 202 r.Therefore, for simplicity, only the components of the left hingeassembly 202 l will be described, unless mentioned otherwise. It is tobe noted that having identical components for the left and right hingeassemblies 202 l, 202 r presents the advantage of requiring lessside-specific parts, which helps streamline the inventory of componentsduring manufacturing and/or when servicing.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the left hinge assembly 202 l includes aleft adapter assembly 210 l adapted to be removably connected to thebase 80 l. The left adapter assembly 210 l includes a plate 212 definingholes 214 corresponding to the threaded holes 84 of the base 80 l.Fasteners 216 connect the plate 212 to the base 80 l when extendingthrough the holes 214 and engaging the threaded holes 84. The plate 212further defines a slotted hole 220 in a central portion thereof. Whenconnected, the plate 212 defines a top face 218 l of the rear leftpillar 72 l, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The left hinge assembly 202 l further includes a left pillar bracket 230l adapted to be removably connected to the left adapter assembly 210 l.As best seen in FIG. 4, the left pillar bracket 230 l is positioned atthe rear of the left adapter assembly 210 l. The left pillar bracket 230l has a flange 232 abutting the plate 212, and slotted holes 234 aredefined in the flange 232. Four of the fasteners 216 extend through fourcorresponding slotted holes 234, as well as through the correspondingholes 214 and 84 as indicated above. The flange 232 also defines acentral hole 236. In other embodiments, the hole 236 could be omitted.

The left hinge assembly 202 l also includes a left adjuster assembly 250l. The left adjuster assembly 250 l includes an insert 252 extending inthe holes 220, 236. A threaded hole 254 is defined in the insert 252.When the insert 252 extends through the holes 220, 236, a screw 256engages the threaded hole 254. As seen in FIG. 4, the screw 256 ispointing towards the front of the vehicle container 40 so as to beinserted from a rear of the rear left pillar 72 l. By screwing orunscrewing the screw 256, the left adjuster assembly 250 l permits theadjustment of the position of the left pillar bracket 230 l relative tothe plate 212 and the base 80 l in the lengthwise 52 direction of thevehicle container 40 defined consistently by the front and rear ends 44,46 of the floor 42 before the fasteners 216 extending in the holes 234are tightened.

In other embodiments, it is contemplated that the slotted holes 234could be shaped to permit the adjustment of the position of the leftpillar bracket 230 l relative to the plate 212 and the base 80 lsimultaneously in the lengthwise direction 52 and in the widthwisedirection 54 of the vehicle container 40 defined consistently with leftand right sides 48, 50 of the floor 42. As mentioned above, as the leftand right hinge assemblies 202 l, 202 r have identical components, theright hinge assembly 202 r also has a right adjuster assembly (notshown). The left adjuster assembly 250 l and the right adjuster assemblyalso prevent the left pillar bracket 230 l and the right pillar bracketfrom moving in the lengthwise direction 52 when the door 110 moves fromthe open position to the closed position and abuts the rear pillars 72l, 72 r.

Still referring to FIG. 4, a hinge pin 260 extends through apertures 262defined in the left pillar bracket 230 l. The hinge pin 260 has anaperture 264 defined therein which is shaped and dimensioned to receivea lateral projection 266 of the left pillar bracket 230 l. When theprojection 266 is received in the aperture 264, rotation of the hingepin 260 relative to the left pillar bracket 230 l is prevented. Thehinge pin 260 is retained on the left pillar bracket 230 l via aretaining pin 268 extending through an aperture defined in theprojection 266. The hinge pin 260 defines a pivot axis 270 about whichthe door 110 pivots between the open and closed positions.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 5C, the left hinge assembly 202 l furtherincludes a left door bracket 280 l adapted to be removably connected tothe upper left portion 1121 of the door 110. As best seen in FIG. 5C,the left door bracket 280 l is connected to the door 110 using fasteners282 engaging an upper left door corner bracket 284 l. The left doorbracket 280 l defines an aperture 286 shaped and dimensioned forreceiving the hinge pin 260. The upper left door corner bracket 284 l isconnected to the door 110 using fasteners 288 and the fasteners 282. Thebent left portion 116 l (FIG. 5C) of the door 110 is sandwiched betweenthe upper left door corner bracket 284 l and the left door bracket 280l. The fasteners 282 extend through holes 117 defined in the bent leftportion 116 l and permit the connection of both the upper left doorcorner bracket 284 l and the left door bracket 280 l to the door 110.One of the fasteners 288 extends through a hole 289 defined in the upperbent portion 118 of the door 110. When the left door bracket 280 l isconnected to the left pillar bracket 230 l via the hinge pin 260, thedoor 110 pivots about the pivot axis 270 between the open and closedpositions. Similarly, a right door bracket 280 r is adapted to beremovably connected to the upper right portion 112 r of the door 110.The right door bracket 280 r is connected to the bent right portion 116r of the door 110 using fasteners 282 engaging an upper right doorcorner bracket 284 r. The right door bracket 280 r and the upper rightdoor corner bracket 284 r are mirror images of the left door bracket 280l and the upper left door corner bracket 284 l respectively.

It is contemplated that the position of the door 110 relative to thevehicle container 40 could be adjusted in the widthwise direction 54 byperforming the following steps: (i) loosely connecting the left andright pillar brackets 232 l, 232 r to the bases 80 l, 80 r with thefasteners 216; (ii) positioning the door 110 against the rear pillars 72l, 72 r, (iii) connecting the left door bracket 280 l to the left pillarbracket 232 l and connecting the right door bracket 280 r to the rightpillar bracket 232 r using left and right hinge pins 260; (iv) movingthe door 110 along the widthwise direction 54 as desired; and (v)tightening the fasteners 216 to secure the left and right pillarbrackets 232 l, 232 r to the bases 80 l, 80 r.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the systems 100, 400 further include leftand right adjustment screw assemblies 290 l, 290 r connected to the door110 in the lower left and right portions 114 l, 114 r thereof. The leftand right adjustment screw assemblies 290 l, 290 r have an adjustmentscrew 292. The adjustment screw 292 is integral to the pin 172, as bestseen in FIGS. 6C to 6F, but the adjustment screw 292 could be connectedto the pin 172 otherwise in other embodiments. Each adjustment screw 292is enclosed in a corresponding lower left and right door corner bracket294 l, 294 r, which are connected to the door 110 using fasteners 295.The adjustment screw 292 is thus threadably connected to the door 110via the corresponding left and right door corner bracket 294 l, 294 r.One of the fasteners 295 extends through a hole 295 a defined in thelower bent portion 120 of the door 110. A cap 296 covers the head ofeach adjustment screw 292. As best seen in FIGS. 6C to 6F, the cap 296has a projection 296 a that is inserted in the head of the adjustmentscrew 292, which prevents the rotation thereof. The cap 296 is connectedto the corresponding adjustment screw assembly 290 l, 290 r usingfasteners 297.

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 6F, it is to be noted that the screw adjustmentassemblies 290 l, 290 r are accessible from a rear side of the door 110after removing the caps 296. It is also to be noted that the hooks 168pivot about the axis 170, and that the axis 170 is not moveable using aneccentric assembly as in conventional door latch systems. The adjustmentof the door latch system 150 is performed by removing the caps 296 fromthe left and right door corner brackets 294 l, 294 r, and by screwing orunscrewing the adjustment screws 292, which changes the position of thepins 172 relative to the hooks 168. Thus, the screw adjustmentassemblies 290 l, 290 r provides in some circumstances a more preciseand more convenient adjustment of the door latch system 150 compared toconventional systems using an eccentric assembly, which are often onlyaccessible from an underside of the vehicle container 40. Furthermore,in conventional latch systems, adjusting the eccentric assembly alsorequires the adjustment of the extension of a rod of the actuator. Inthe present door latch system 150, there is no need to adjust theextension of the rod 152 b of the actuator 152 to adjust how the hooks168 catch and release the pins 172. Moreover, since the adjustment screwassemblies 290 l, 290 r are sheltered by the left and right door cornerbrackets 294 l, 294 r and the caps 296, they are less exposed to debris,dust and bad weather.

Furthermore, by screwing and unscrewing the adjustment screws 292, theleft and right adjustment screw assemblies 290 l, 290 r are adapted foradjusting a position of the door 110 relative to the vehicle container40 in the lengthwise direction 52. For example, the left and rightadjustment screw assemblies 290 l, 290 r can be used to set the spacingbetween the pillars 72 l, 72 r and the door 110 so as to make sure thatthe door latch system 150 adequately locks the door 110 in the closedposition. Thus, using the left adjuster assembly 250 l and the rightadjuster assembly 250 r, and the adjustment screw assemblies 290 l, 290r, a user can adjust and set the position the door 110 against thevehicle container 40 in the lengthwise direction 52 as desired.Moreover, since the hooks 168 have a tapered shape, the pins 172 aredrawn towards the vehicle container 40 when the hooks 168 pivot from theunlocked position (FIG. 6C) to the locked position (FIG. 6E).

Moreover, the combined action of the left and right adjustment screwassemblies 290 l, 290 r and the door latch system 150 also permits foradjusting a position of the door 110 relative to the vehicle container40 in the heightwise direction 56 of the vehicle container 40. Referringto FIGS. 6C to 6F, the position of the door 110 relative to the vehiclecontainer 40 can be adjusted by performing the following steps: (i)positioning the door 110 against the rear pillars 72 l, 72 r, (ii)screwing the left and right adjustment screws 292 completely; (iii)pivoting the hooks 168 about the axis 170 so as to lock the door 110 inthe closed position (as in FIGS. 6E and 6F); (iv) unscrew the left andright adjustment screws 292 until the pins 172 abut the hooks 168 andsince the hooks 168 have a tapered shape, screwing or unscrewing theadjustment screws 292 raises or lowers the corresponding side of thedoor 110 relative to the vehicle container 40; and (v) connecting thecap 296 to the corresponding lower left and right door corner bracket294 l, 294 r so as to insert the projection 296 a in the head of theadjustment screw 292 and prevent the rotation thereof. In the presentembodiment, the hooks 168 and the adjustment screws 292 provide for aheight adjustment of the door 110 relative to the vehicle container 40of about 0.5 inch (about 12.7 mm). More or less adjustment could beprovided by the hooks 168 and the adjustment screws 292 in otherembodiments.

Referring back to FIGS. 5A to 5C, the connection of the door brackets280 l, 280 r, 294 l, 294 r to the panel 111 of the door 110 using thefasteners 282, 288, 295 is advantageous compared to the weldedconnection of the hinge assemblies to the door found in conventionaldoor assemblies for a vehicle container.

The high temperature involved in most welding processes causesdistortion, warpage, and stresses in the door of conventional doorassemblies. Such warpage is difficult to prevent and even more difficultto predict accurately. The warpage makes the process of fitting the doorto the vehicle container difficult, and grinding operations are veryoften necessary to provide an adequate fit of the door to the vehiclecontainer. To minimize the warpage induced by welding, a conventionaldoor assembly for a vehicle container has reinforcement ribs and/ortubes welded to the door to increase the rigidity thereof, and thusreduce the warpage. However, adding such reinforcement ribs and tubes istime-consuming, costly, adds weight to the door assembly and since thesereinforcing components are welded to the door, there are more welds onthe door assembly that are subject to cracks and failures over time.Cracks and failures in welds are a major concern in dump bodies as weldstend to fail prematurely because of the vibrations and the energyinduced by the impact of the door against the vehicle container bodywhen the door is moved from the open position to the closed positions.Cracks in welds have to be carefully monitored, and the service life ofa door is often dependent on the severity and number cracks found in thewelds thereof.

The door 110 of the present systems 100, 400 presents the advantage ofhaving none of the heat-related stresses and deformations found inconventional door assemblies since the connection of the door brackets280 l, 280 r, 294 l, 294 r to the panel 111 of the door 110 is performedusing the fasteners 282, 288, 295. Since heat-related stresses anddeformations are avoided, the door 110 is also more planar than acomparable conventional door that has components welded thereto. Havinga more planar door 110 facilitates the adjustment thereof to the vehiclecontainer 40.

Moreover, it had been found that having the bent portions 116 l, 116 r,118, 120 increases the rigidity of the door 110 in the peripheralportions thereof without adding weight to the door 110. In someembodiments, the door 110 can be as much as thirty percent lighter thana conventional door of a similar size. The center portion of the door110 is free of bent portions and/or reinforcements and remains morecompliant than the peripheral portions. The center portion of the door110 is thus capable of absorbing vibrations and dissipating the energycaused by the impact of the door 110 with the vehicle container 40 whenmoved from the open position to the closed position better than aconventional door. Furthermore, since the door 110 is free of welds, theissues of cracks and failures of the welds over time are non existent.The service life of the door 110 is thus increased compared to aconventional door having hinge assemblies and reinforcement ribs and/ortubes welded thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge assembly 200 b will bedescribed in details. As mentioned above, the hinge assembly 200 bprovides for a high-lift gate action opening of the door 110, as shownin FIG. 7. The hinge assembly 200 b, like the hinge assembly 200 a,includes a left hinge assembly 202 l and a right hinge assembly 202 r.In the present embodiment, the left and right hinge assemblies 202 l,202 r are mirror images and have several identical components, and manyof these components are similar or the same as the ones described abovewith reference to the hinge assembly 200 a. Therefore, for simplicity,only the components of the left hinge assembly 202 l will be described,and elements of the hinge assembly 200 b that are the same as or similarto those of the hinge assembly 200 a have been labeled with the samereference numerals and will not be described again in detail.

The hinge assembly 200 b has the same left pillar bracket 230 l as theone described above with reference to the hinge assembly 200 a, and thesame left adjuster assembly 250 l, with the difference being that thescrew 256 is pointing towards the rear of the vehicle container 40 so asto be inserted from a front of the rear left pillar 72 l. The hingeassembly 200 b has a plate 312. The plate 312 defines an aperture 314.The plate 312 is connected to the base 80 l using the fasteners 216. Asseen in FIGS. 4 and 8, the left pillar bracket 230 l is located atdifferent positions with respect to the base 80 l the hinge assemblies200 a, 200 b. This is also the case for the right pillar bracket.

The hinge assembly 200 b further includes an extension arm 320. Theextension arm 320 is an elongated member, which defines a front aperture322. The shape and dimensions of the extension arm 320 near the frontaperture 322 is similar to that of the door bracket 280 l near theaperture 286. The extension arm 320 is pivotally connected to the leftpillar bracket 230 l via the hinge pin 260, which extends through thefront aperture 322. The extension arm 320 further defines rear apertures330 located rearward of the front aperture 322. The door bracket 280 l,which is the same as the one described above with reference to the hingeassembly 200 a, is pivotally connected to the extension arm 320 viaanother hinge pin 332. The hinge pin 332 defines a pivot axis 333 beingoffset of the pivot axis 270 defined by the hinge pin 260. In thepresent embodiment, the pivot axis 333 extends parallel and at the rearof the pivot axis 270. As for the hinge pin 260 and the left pillarbracket 230 l, the hinge pin 332 has an aperture 334 defined thereinwhich is shaped and dimensioned to receive a lateral projection 336 ofthe extension arm 320. When the projection 336 is received in theaperture 334, rotation of the hinge pin 332 relative to the extensionarm 320 is prevented. The hinge pin 332 is retained on the extension arm320 via a retaining pin 338 extending through an aperture defined in theprojection 336.

The extension arm 320 further has an abutment portion 340 extendingbetween the rear apertures 330. When the door bracket 280 l is pivotallyconnected to the extension arm 320 via the hinge pin 332, the doorbracket 280 l partially nested in the extension arm 320. As can beunderstood from FIG. 7, the door bracket 280 l abuts the abutmentportion 340 when the door 110 is pivoted in the open position.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge assembly 200 b further includesleft and right actuator assemblies 350 l, 350 r. The left actuatorassembly 350 l is received and extends in the rear left pillar 72 l. Theleft actuator assembly 350 l has a lower end (not shown) connected tothe rear left pillar 72 l. The right actuator assembly 350 r is receivedand extends in the rear right pillar 72 r. The right actuator assembly350 r has a lower end 351 connected to the rear right pillar 72 r. Theleft and right actuator assemblies 350 l, 350 r are identical.Therefore, for simplicity, only the left actuator assembly 350 l will bedescribed.

The left actuator assembly 350 l includes an extendible and retractableactuator 352 being operable for moving the door 110 in the open positionwhen moved to an extended position (the right actuator assembly 350 r isshown in the extended position in FIG. 7), and moving the door 110 inthe closed position when moved to a retracted position. The actuator 352has an upper end 354. The left actuator assembly 350 l further includesan extension bracket 360 pivotally connected to the upper end 354 of theactuator 352. The extension bracket 360 is also connected to theextension arm 320 via fasteners 362. The extension bracket 360 extendsthrough the aperture 314 defined in the plate 312, and the base 80 l.

When a user operates the left and right actuator assemblies 350 l, 350 rso as to extend the actuators 352, the extension brackets 360 and theextension arms 320 are moved upwardly, the door brackets 280 l, 280 rabut the abutment portion 340 of the corresponding extension arm 320,and the door 110 pivots from the closed position to the open positionabout the pivot axis 270. When the door 110 is in the open position andwhen a user operates the left and right actuator assemblies 350 l, 350 rso as to retract the actuators 352, the extension brackets 360 and theextension arms 320 are moved downwardly, the door brackets 280 l, 280 rremain in abutment with the abutment portion 340 of the correspondingextension arm 320, and the door 110 pivots from the open position to theclosed position about the pivot axis 270.

The hinge assembly 200 b has the following advantages, among others,over the hinge assembly 200 a. First, the door 110 can be moved in theopen position without moving the vehicle container 40 in the raisedposition. Second, larger items can be emptied from the vehicle container40 since the door 110 opens higher than using the hinge assembly 200 a,as seen in FIGS. 3 and 7. Third, if a user desires to empty the contentof the vehicle container 40 by moving the vehicle container 40 in theraised position, the hinge assembly 200 b enables the door 110 to pivotabout both pivot axes 270, 333, or only the pivot axis 333, between theclosed position and the open position.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the hinge assembly 200 c will bedescribed in details. As mentioned above, the hinge assembly 200 cprovides for a swing-gate opening action of the door 110, as shown inFIG. 9. The hinge assembly 200 c, like the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200b, includes a left hinge assembly 202 l and a right hinge assembly 202r. In the present embodiment, the left and right hinge assemblies 202 l,202 r have components that are similar or the same as the ones describedabove with reference to the hinge assembly 200 a. Therefore, forsimplicity, elements of the hinge assembly 200 c that are the same as orsimilar to those of the hinge assembly 200 a have been labeled with thesame reference numerals and will not be described again in detail.

Referring to FIG. 10, a plate 402 is present in both the left and righthinge assemblies 202 l, 202 r. The plates 402 are connected to the leftand right bases 80 l, 80 r using the fasteners 216. When connected, theplates 402 also define the top faces 218 l, 218 r of the left and rightrear pillars 72 l, 72 r. Each of the plates 402 also defines an aperture404.

Similar to what has been described with reference to the left pillarbracket 230 l of hinge assembly 200 a, a right pillar bracket 230 r isconnected to the plate 402 and to the right base 80 r using thefasteners 216. A hinge pin 260 extends through the right pillar bracket230 r. A right adjuster assembly 250 r permits adjustment of theposition of the right pillar bracket 230 r relative to the plate 402 andbase 80 r. Although the right pillar bracket 230 r shown in FIGS. 9 and10 differs from the left pillar bracket 230 l shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, itis contemplated that the right pillar bracket 230 r of the hingeassembly 200 c could be identical to the left pillar bracket 230 l andthe right pillar bracket 230 r of the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 b.

A right door bracket 280 r is pivotally connected to the right pillarbracket 230 r when the hinge pin 260 extends through the right pillarbracket 230 r and the aperture 286 of the right door bracket 280 r. Theright door bracket 280 r further has a pivot 410 having a pivot axis 412extending perpendicular to the pivot axis 270. The pivot 410 isconnected to the upper right door corner bracket 284 r, in the upperright portion 112 r of the door 110. In the lower right portion 114 r ofthe door 110, the lower right door corner bracket 294 r includes abracket 420. A pin 422 is connected to the bracket 420, and a bushing424 extends over the pin 422. The pin 422 defines an axis 426 that iscoaxial with the pivot axis 412.

Still referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a lower right pillar bracket 430 isconnected to the rear right pillar 72 r using fasteners (not shown).When connected, the lower right pillar bracket 430 is located below theright pillar bracket 230 r. The lower right pillar bracket 430 has aU-shaped portion 432 dimensioned to receive the pin 422 and the bushing424 therein, as shown in FIG. 9. When the pin 422 and the bushing 424are received in the lower right pillar bracket 430, the door 110 ispivotable relative to the vehicle container 40 about the pivot axes 412,426 in a swing-gate configuration.

The hinge assembly 200 c further includes a left pillar bracket 450 thatis connected to the plate 402 and to the left base 80 l using thefasteners 216. In contrast with the left pillar bracket 230 l describedabove, the left pillar bracket 450 is hook-shaped. As described above,the left adjuster assembly 250 l and the slotted holes 234 defined inthe flange 232 permit the adjustment of the position of the left pillarbracket 450 relative to the plate 402 and the base 80 l in thelengthwise direction 52 of the vehicle container 40 before the fasteners216 extending in the holes 234 are tightened.

The hinge assembly 200 c further includes a left door bracket 280 l thathas a pin 460 in replacement of the aperture 286. The pin 460 is shapedand dimensioned to be received in the left pillar bracket 450. The hingeassembly 200 c further includes a lock 470 for selectively locking thepin 460 to the left pillar bracket 450. The lock 470 extends through theaperture 404. The lock 470 is moveable using, for example, manual,pneumatic or hydraulic systems. When the lock 470 is moved in the lockedposition (i.e. upwardly), the lock 470 retains the pin 460 in the leftpillar bracket 450. When the lock 470 is moved in the unlocked position(i.e. downwardly), the pin 460 is free to move away from the left pillarbracket 450, and thus allow the door 110 to pivot about the coaxialpivot axes 412, 426 in a swing-gate configuration.

It is to be noted that the door 110 can be moved from the closedposition to the open position by having the lock 470 in the lockedposition, by unlocking the door latch system 150 and by pivoting thevehicle container 40 in the raised position, as indicated by line 24 inFIG. 1, such that the door 110 pivots about the pivot axis 270.Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 hasthe door 110 pivoting about the rear right pillar 72 r, the left andright hinge assemblies 202 l, 202 r of the hinge assembly 200 c could beflipped so as to make the door 110 pivot about the rear left pillar 72l.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a method 500 for changing a pivotingconfiguration of the door 110 of the vehicle container 40 will bedescribed using the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 c described above. Asmentioned, the door 110 is pivotally connected to the top portions 82 l,82 r of the pillars 72 l, 72 r when the hinge assemblies 200 a, 200 bare used, and to one of the top portions 82 l, 82 r when the hingeassembly 200 c is used. In an illustrative scenario, the door 110 isinitially pivotally connected to the vehicle container 40 via the hingeassembly 200 a, and is thus movable in single-action opening. When thedoor 110 needs to be pivotally connected to the vehicle container 40 tobe movable in a swing-gate configuration, a user first unfastens 510 thehinge assembly 200 a from the door 110 and from the top portions 82 l,82 r of the pillars 72 l, 72 r. The user then fastens 520 the hingeassembly 200 c to the door 110 and to the top portions 82 l, 82 r of thepillars 72 l, 72 r. The user also connects the lower right door cornerbracket 294 r including the bracket 420 to the door 110, and connectsthe lower right pillar bracket 430 to the rear right pillar 72 r. Theuser then pivotally connects 530 the door 110 to the vehicle container40 using the hinge assembly 200 c, and the door 110 is movable in aswing-gate configuration. In the above scenario, the method 500 involvesno welding operations, and adjustments of the position of the door 110relative to the vehicle container 40 can be performed using the adjusterassemblies 250 l, 250 r and the screw adjustment assemblies 290 l, 290r.

The systems 100, 400, the vehicle container 40, and the door 110 for avehicle container 40 implemented in accordance with some non-limitingimplementations of the present technology can be represented aspresented in the following numbered clauses.

CLAUSE 1: A system (100) for assembling a door (110) to a vehiclecontainer (40), the vehicle container (40) having a container body (41c), a first pillar (72 l) connected to the container body, and a secondpillar (72 r) connected to the container body, an opening (41 a)providing access to an interior (41 b) of the container body beingdefined between the first and second pillars, and the door selectivelyclosing the opening, the system comprising a first base (80 l) adaptedfor connection to a top portion (82 l) of the first pillar, a secondbase (80 r) adapted for connection to a top portion (82 r) of the secondpillar, and a hinge assembly (200) adapted for pivotally connecting thedoor to the vehicle container, the hinge assembly being adapted to beremovably connected to the first and second bases and to the door, thehinge assembly being selected from a first hinge assembly (200 a), and asecond hinge assembly (200 b), when the first hinge assembly pivotallyconnects the door to the vehicle container, the door has a firstpivoting configuration and when the second hinge assembly pivotallyconnects the door to the vehicle container, the door has a secondpivoting configuration being different from the first pivotingconfiguration.

CLAUSE 2: The system of clause 1, wherein the first hinge assemblycomprises a first left hinge assembly (202 l) having a first leftadapter assembly (210 l) adapted to be removably connected to the firstbase, a first left pillar bracket (230 l) adapted to be removablyconnected to the first left adapter assembly, and a first left doorbracket (280 l) adapted to be removably connected to the door, and afirst right hinge assembly (202 r) having a first right adapter assemblyadapted to be removably connected to the second base, a first rightpillar bracket (230 r) adapted to be removably connected to the firstright adapter assembly, and a first right door bracket (280 r) adaptedto be removably connected to the door, and the second hinge assemblycomprises a second left hinge assembly (202 l) having a second leftadapter assembly adapted to be removably connected to the first base, asecond left pillar bracket (230 l) adapted to be removably connected tothe second left adapter assembly, and a second left door bracket (280 l)adapted to be removably connected to the door, and a second right hingeassembly (202 r) having a second right adapter assembly adapted to beremovably connected to the second base, a second right pillar bracket(230 r) adapted to be removably connected to the second right adapterassembly, and a second right door bracket (280 r) adapted to beremovably connected to the door, wherein the first left pillar bracketis identical to the second left pillar bracket, and the first rightpillar bracket is identical to the second right pillar bracket.

CLAUSE 3: The system of clause 2, wherein the first left pillar bracketis identical to the first right pillar bracket.

CLAUSE 4: The system of clause 2 or 3, wherein the first left adapterassembly is identical to the first right adapter assembly, and thesecond left adapter assembly is identical to the second right adapterassembly.

CLAUSE 5: The system of any one of clauses 2 to 4, wherein the firstleft door bracket is identical to the second left door bracket, and thefirst right door bracket is identical to the second right door bracket.

CLAUSE 6: The system of any one of clauses 2 to 5, wherein, when in use,the first left pillar bracket and the second left pillar bracket arelocated at different positions relative to the first base, and, when inuse, the first right pillar bracket and the second right pillar bracketare located at different positions relative to the second base.

CLAUSE 7: The system of any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the firsthinge assembly is a single-action opening hinge assembly, the first leftdoor bracket being pivotally connected to the first left pillar bracket,and the first right door bracket being pivotally connected to the firstright pillar bracket.

CLAUSE 8: The system of any one of clauses 1 to 6, wherein the secondhinge assembly is a high-lift gate opening hinge assembly furthercomprising a left extension arm (320) pivotally connected between thesecond left door bracket and the second left pillar bracket, a rightextension arm (320) pivotally connected between the second right doorbracket and the second right pillar bracket, and at least one actuatorassembly (350 l, 350 r) having upper and lower ends (354, 351), thelower end being pivotally connected to one of the first and secondpillars, the upper end being pivotally connected to one of the left andright extension arms, the actuator assembly including an extendible andretractable actuator (352) being operable for pivoting the door awayfrom the first and second pillars when moved to an extended position,and pivoting the door towards the first and second pillars when moved toa retracted position.

CLAUSE 9: The system of any one of clauses 1 to 8, wherein the hingeassembly is selected from the first hinge assembly, the second hingeassembly and a third hinge assembly (200 c) providing for a thirdpivoting configuration of the door relative to the vehicle container,the third pivoting configuration being different from the first andsecond pivoting configurations, the third hinge assembly comprising athird left hinge assembly (202 l) having a third left adapter assembly(210 l) adapted to be removably connected to the first base, a thirdleft pillar bracket (450) adapted to be removably connected to the thirdleft adapter assembly, and a third left door bracket (280 l) adapted tobe removably connected to the door, and a third right hinge assembly(202 r) having a third right adapter assembly (210 r) adapted to beremovably connected to the second base, a third right pillar bracket(230 r) adapted to be removably connected to the third right adapterassembly, and a third right door bracket (280 r) adapted to be removablyconnected to the door, the third left pillar bracket is different fromthe third right pillar bracket, and the third left door bracket isdifferent from the third right door bracket.

CLAUSE 10: The system of clause 9, wherein the third hinge assembly is aswing-gate opening hinge assembly, the third left pillar bracket is anupper left pillar bracket, the third right pillar bracket is an upperright pillar bracket, the third left door bracket is an upper left doorbracket, the third right door bracket is an upper right door bracket,the third hinge assembly further comprises at least one of a lower leftpillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to the first pillarbelow the upper left pillar bracket, and a lower right pillar bracket(430) adapted to be removably connected to the second pillar below theupper right pillar bracket, and the door is pivotally connected to thevehicle container via at least one of the upper left pillar bracket andthe lower left pillar bracket, and the upper right pillar bracket andthe lower right pillar bracket.

CLAUSE 11: The system of clause 9 or 10, wherein, when in use, any oneof the first, second and third left adapter assemblies defines at leastpartially a top face (218 l) of the first pillar, and, when in use, anyone of the first, second and third right adapter assemblies defines atleast partially a top face (218 r) of the second pillar.

CLAUSE 12: The system of any one of clauses 9 to 11, further comprisinga left adjuster assembly (250 l) for adjusting a position of any one ofthe first, second and third left pillar bracket relative to thecorresponding first, second or third left adapter assembly, and a rightadjuster assembly (250 r) for adjusting a position of any one of thefirst, second and third right pillar bracket relative to thecorresponding first, second or third right adapter assembly.

CLAUSE 13: The system of clause 12, wherein the left adjuster assemblyadjusts the position of any one of the first, second and third leftpillar bracket relative to the corresponding first, second or third leftadapter assembly in a lengthwise direction (52) of the vehiclecontainer, and the right adjuster assembly adjusts a position of any oneof the first, second and third right pillar bracket relative to thecorresponding first, second or third right adapter assembly in thelengthwise direction of the vehicle container.

CLAUSE 14: The system of any one of clauses 9 to 13, further comprisingat least one adjustment screw assembly (290 l, 290 r) connected to thedoor for adjusting a position of the door relative to the vehiclecontainer.

CLAUSE 15: The system of any one of clauses 1 to 14, wherein the firstbase is a left base, the first pillar is a left pillar, the second baseis a right base, the second pillar is a right pillar, and the containerbody includes a floor (42), a front wall (60) connected to a front end(44) of the floor and extending upwardly from the floor, a left sidewall (70 l) connected to the floor and the front wall, the left sidewall extending upwardly from a left side (48) of the floor and rearwardof the front wall, the left pillar being connected to the left side walland to a rear end (46) of the floor, the left pillar extending upwardlyfrom the rear end of the floor and rearward of the left side wall, and aright side wall (70 r) connected to the floor and the front wall, theright side wall extending upwardly from a right side (50) of the floorand rearward of the front wall, the right pillar being connected to theright side wall and to the rear end of the floor, the right pillarextending upwardly from the rear end of the floor and rearward of theright side wall.

CLAUSE 16: The system of any one of clauses 1 to 15, wherein the vehiclecontainer is a dump body for a truck (10).

CLAUSE 17: The system of clause 16, wherein the door is a tailgateplate.

CLAUSE 18: A system (400) for assembling a family of vehicle containers,the system comprising a vehicle container (40) having a container body(41 c), a first pillar (72 l) connected to the container body, a firstbase (80 l) connected to a top portion (82 l) of the first pillar, asecond pillar (72 r) connected to the container body, and a second base(80 r) connected to a top portion (82 r) of the second pillar, a doorassembly (102) for selectively closing an opening (41 a) defined betweenthe first and second pillars, the opening providing access to aninterior (41 b) of the vehicle container, the door assembly including adoor (110), and a hinge assembly (200) adapted for pivotally connectingthe door to the vehicle container, the hinge assembly being adapted tobe removably connected to the first and second bases and to the door,the hinge assembly being selected from a first hinge assembly (200 a),and a second hinge assembly (200 b), when the first hinge assemblypivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has afirst pivoting configuration and when the second hinge assemblypivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has asecond pivoting configuration being different from the first pivotingconfiguration.

CLAUSE 19: A vehicle container assembled according to the system ofclause 18.

CLAUSE 20: A truck (10) comprising a frame (12), a cab (14) connected tothe frame, a plurality of wheels (16, 18) rotatably connected to theframe, and the vehicle container of clause 19 connected to the frame.

CLAUSE 21: A method for changing a pivoting configuration of a door(110) pivotally connected to a top portion (82 l, 82 r) of a pillar (72l, 72 r) of a vehicle container (40) via a first hinge assembly (200 a),the method comprising unfastening the first hinge assembly from at leastone of the door and the top portion of the pillar of the vehiclecontainer, fastening a second hinge assembly (202 b, 202 c) to the atleast one of the door and the top portion of the pillar of the vehiclecontainer, and pivotally connecting the door to the vehicle containerusing the second hinge assembly, the second hinge assembly providing apivoting configuration of the door that is different from the pivotingconfiguration provided by the first hinge assembly.

CLAUSE 22: A door (110) for a vehicle container (40) comprising a panel(111) having left and right bent portions (116 l, 116 r), and a lowerbent portion (120), the panel defining holes (117, 295 a) in the leftand right bent portions and in the lower bent portion for receivingfasteners (282, 295), and a portion of a hinge assembly (200) removablyconnected to the panel by the fasteners.

CLAUSE 23: The door of clause 22, wherein the portion of a hingeassembly includes at least one of a left lower bracket (294 l) removablyfastened to the left bent portion and to the lower bent portion, and aright lower bracket (294 r) removably fastened to the right bent portionand to the lower bent portion.

CLAUSE 24: The door of clause 23, wherein the at least one of the leftlower bracket and the right lower bracket includes an adjustment screwassembly (290 l, 290 r) for adjusting a position of the door relative tothe vehicle container.

CLAUSE 25: The door of any one of clauses 22 to 24, wherein the panelfurther comprises an upper bent portion (118), and wherein the portionof a hinge assembly further includes a left upper bracket (280 l)removably fastened to the left bent portion and to the upper bentportion, and a right upper bracket (280 r) removably fastened to theright bent portion and to the upper bent portion.

CLAUSE 26: A vehicle container (40) comprising a vehicle container body(41 c), a door (110) pivotally connected the vehicle container body, anda screw adjustment assembly (290 l, 290 r) removably connected to thedoor for adjusting a position of the door relative to the vehiclecontainer body.

CLAUSE 27: The vehicle container of clause 26, further comprising a doorlatch system (150) for locking the door to the vehicle container bodywhen the door is in a closed position, the door latch system includingan extendible and retractable actuator (152) pivotally connected to thevehicle container body, a linkage assembly (160) operatively connectedto the actuator, a rod (166) operatively connected to the linkageassembly, the rod being pivotable about an axis (170) upon extension andretraction of the actuator, and a hook (168) connected to the rod, thehook being moved between a locked position and an unlocked position bypivoting the rod about the axis, and the screw adjustment assemblyincludes a pin (172) removably fastened to the door, the pin beingmovable relative to the door and catchable by the hook.

CLAUSE 28: The vehicle container of clause 27, wherein the pin isthreadably connected to the door.

CLAUSE 29: The vehicle container of any one of clauses 26 to 28, whereinthe screw adjustment assembly includes an adjustment screw (292)connected to the pin, and a cap (296), the cap having a projection (296a) for preventing a rotation of the adjustment screw.

CLAUSE 30: The vehicle container of any one of clauses 26 to 28, whereinthe hook has a tapered shape.

CLAUSE 31: The vehicle container of clause 30, wherein the screwadjustment assembly cooperates with the hook to adjust the position ofthe door relative to the vehicle container body in a heightwisedirection (56).

CLAUSE 32: The vehicle container of any one of clauses 26 to 31, whereinthe screw adjustment assembly is accessible from a rear side of thedoor.

CLAUSE 33: The vehicle container of any one of clauses 26 to 32, whereinthe screw adjustment assembly adjusts the position of the door relativeto the vehicle container in a lengthwise direction (52).

CLAUSE 34: A vehicle container (40) comprising a vehicle container body(41 c) defining an opening (41 a), a door (110) pivotally connected tothe vehicle container body and selectively closing the opening whenpivoted in a closed position, the door defining at least one recess(174), and a door latch system (150) for locking the door to the vehiclecontainer body in the closed position, the door latch system includingan extendible and retractable actuator (152) pivotally connected to thevehicle container body, a linkage assembly (160) operatively connectedto the actuator, a rod (166) operatively connected to the linkageassembly, the rod being pivotable about an axis (170) upon extension andretraction of the actuator, at least one hook (168) connected to therod, the at least one hook being received and withdrawn from the atleast one recess of the door by pivoting the rod about the axis, and atleast one pin (172) removably fastened to the door and extending in theat least one recess, the at least one pin being selectively movablerelative to the door.

CLAUSE 35: The vehicle container of clause 34, wherein the at least onepin is threadably connected to the door.

CLAUSE 36: The vehicle container of clause 34 or 35, wherein the linkageassembly includes a base (164 a) connected to the vehicle containerbody, a first link (164 b) pivotally connected to the base by a firstpivot axis (162 a), a second link (164 c) pivotally connected to thefirst link by a second pivot axis (162 b), and a rod link (164 d)pivotally connected to the second link by a third pivot axis (162 c),and the rod link being further connected to the rod.

CLAUSE 37: The vehicle container of clause 36, wherein, when the atleast one hook is in an unlocked position, the second pivot axis is on afirst side of an imaginary line (162 d) passing through the first andthird pivot axes, and when the at least one hook is in a lockedposition, the second pivot axis is on a second side of the imaginaryline, the second side being opposite the first side.

CLAUSE 38: The vehicle container of any one of clauses 34 to 37, whereinthe at least one hook has a tapered shape.

CLAUSE 39: The vehicle container of any one of clauses 34 or 38, furthercomprising a stop (168 a) connected to the at least one hook, the stopbeing structured to abut the vehicle container body when the at leastone hook is fully withdrawn from the at least one recess of the door.

Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of thepresent technology may become apparent to those skilled in the art. Theforegoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting.The scope of the present technology is therefore intended to be limitedsolely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for assembling a door to a vehiclecontainer, the vehicle container having a container body, a first pillarconnected to the container body, and a second pillar connected to thecontainer body, an opening providing access to an interior of thecontainer body being defined between the first and second pillars, andthe door selectively closing the opening, the system comprising: a firstbase adapted for connection to a top portion of the first pillar; asecond base adapted for connection to a top portion of the secondpillar; and a hinge assembly adapted for pivotally connecting the doorto the vehicle container, the hinge assembly being adapted to beremovably connected to the first and second bases and to the door, thehinge assembly being selected from: a first hinge assembly, and a secondhinge assembly, when the first hinge assembly pivotally connects thedoor to the vehicle container, the door has a first pivotingconfiguration and when the second hinge assembly pivotally connects thedoor to the vehicle container, the door has a second pivotingconfiguration being different from the first pivoting configuration. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein: the first hinge assembly comprises: afirst left hinge assembly having: a first left adapter assembly adaptedto be removably connected to the first base, a first left pillar bracketadapted to be removably connected to the first left adapter assembly,and a first left door bracket adapted to be removably connected to thedoor; and a first right hinge assembly having: a first right adapterassembly adapted to be removably connected to the second base, a firstright pillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to the firstright adapter assembly, and a first right door bracket adapted to beremovably connected to the door; and the second hinge assemblycomprises: a second left hinge assembly having: a second left adapterassembly adapted to be removably connected to the first base, a secondleft pillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to the second leftadapter assembly, and a second left door bracket adapted to be removablyconnected to the door; and a second right hinge assembly having: asecond right adapter assembly adapted to be removably connected to thesecond base, a second right pillar bracket adapted to be removablyconnected to the second right adapter assembly, and a second right doorbracket adapted to be removably connected to the door; wherein the firstleft pillar bracket is identical to the second left pillar bracket, andthe first right pillar bracket is identical to the second right pillarbracket.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first left pillar bracketis identical to the first right pillar bracket.
 4. The system of claim2, wherein the first left adapter assembly is identical to the firstright adapter assembly, and the second left adapter assembly isidentical to the second right adapter assembly.
 5. The system of claim2, wherein the first left door bracket is identical to the second leftdoor bracket, and the first right door bracket is identical to thesecond right door bracket.
 6. The system of claim 2, wherein, when inuse, the first left pillar bracket and the second left pillar bracketare located at different positions relative to the first base, and, whenin use, the first right pillar bracket and the second right pillarbracket are located at different positions relative to the second base.7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hinge assembly is asingle-action opening hinge assembly, the first left door bracket beingpivotally connected to the first left pillar bracket, and the firstright door bracket being pivotally connected to the first right pillarbracket.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second hinge assembly isa high-lift gate opening hinge assembly further comprising: a leftextension arm pivotally connected between the second left door bracketand the second left pillar bracket; a right extension arm pivotallyconnected between the second right door bracket and the second rightpillar bracket; and at least one actuator assembly having upper andlower ends, the lower end being pivotally connected to one of the firstand second pillars, the upper end being pivotally connected to one ofthe left and right extension arms, the actuator assembly including anextendible and retractable actuator being operable for pivoting the dooraway from the first and second pillars when moved to an extendedposition, and pivoting the door towards the first and second pillarswhen moved to a retracted position.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe hinge assembly is selected from the first hinge assembly, the secondhinge assembly and a third hinge assembly providing for a third pivotingconfiguration of the door relative to the vehicle container, the thirdpivoting configuration being different from the first and secondpivoting configurations, the third hinge assembly comprising: a thirdleft hinge assembly having: a third left adapter assembly adapted to beremovably connected to the first base, a third left pillar bracketadapted to be removably connected to the third left adapter assembly,and a third left door bracket adapted to be removably connected to thedoor; and a third right hinge assembly having: a third right adapterassembly adapted to be removably connected to the second base, a thirdright pillar bracket adapted to be removably connected to the thirdright adapter assembly, and a third right door bracket adapted to beremovably connected to the door; the third left pillar bracket isdifferent from the third right pillar bracket, and the third left doorbracket is different from the third right door bracket.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein: the third hinge assembly is a swing-gate openinghinge assembly, the third left pillar bracket is an upper left pillarbracket, the third right pillar bracket is an upper right pillarbracket, the third left door bracket is an upper left door bracket, thethird right door bracket is an upper right door bracket, the third hingeassembly further comprises at least one of: a lower left pillar bracketadapted to be removably connected to the first pillar below the upperleft pillar bracket, and a lower right pillar bracket adapted to beremovably connected to the second pillar below the upper right pillarbracket; and the door is pivotally connected to the vehicle containervia at least one of: the upper left pillar bracket and the lower leftpillar bracket, and the upper right pillar bracket and the lower rightpillar bracket.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein, when in use, any oneof the first, second and third left adapter assemblies defines at leastpartially a top face of the first pillar, and, when in use, any one ofthe first, second and third right adapter assemblies defines at leastpartially atop face of the second pillar.
 12. The system of claim 9,further comprising a left adjuster assembly for adjusting a position ofany one of the first, second and third left pillar bracket relative tothe corresponding first, second or third left adapter assembly, and aright adjuster assembly for adjusting a position of any one of thefirst, second and third right pillar bracket relative to thecorresponding first, second or third right adapter assembly.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the left adjuster assembly adjusts theposition of any one of the first, second and third left pillar bracketrelative to the corresponding first, second or third left adapterassembly in a lengthwise direction of the vehicle container, and theright adjuster assembly adjusts a position of any one of the first,second and third right pillar bracket relative to the correspondingfirst, second or third right adapter assembly in the lengthwisedirection of the vehicle container.
 14. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising at least one adjustment screw assembly connected to the doorfor adjusting a position of the door relative to the vehicle container.15. The system of claim 1, wherein: the first base is a left base; thefirst pillar is a left pillar; the second base is a right base; thesecond pillar is a right pillar, and the container body includes: afloor, a front wall connected to a front end of the floor and extendingupwardly from the floor, a left side wall connected to the floor and thefront wall, the left side wall extending upwardly from a left side ofthe floor and rearward of the front wall, the left pillar beingconnected to the left side wall and to a rear end of the floor, the leftpillar extending upwardly from the rear end of the floor and rearward ofthe left side wall, and a right side wall connected to the floor and thefront wall, the right side wall extending upwardly from a right side ofthe floor and rearward of the front wall, the right pillar beingconnected to the right side wall and to the rear end of the floor, theright pillar extending upwardly from the rear end of the floor andrearward of the right side wall.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein thevehicle container is a dump body for a truck.
 17. The system of claim16, wherein the door is a tailgate plate.
 18. A system for assembling afamily of vehicle containers, the system comprising: a vehicle containerhaving a container body; a first pillar connected to the container body,a first base connected to a top portion of the first pillar, a secondpillar connected to the container body, and a second base connected to atop portion of the second pillar, a door assembly for selectivelyclosing an opening defined between the first and second pillars, theopening providing access to an interior of the vehicle container, thedoor assembly including a door, and a hinge assembly adapted forpivotally connecting the door to the vehicle container, the hingeassembly being adapted to be removably connected to the first and secondbases and to the door, the hinge assembly being selected from: a firsthinge assembly, and a second hinge assembly, when the first hingeassembly pivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the doorhas a first pivoting configuration and when the second hinge assemblypivotally connects the door to the vehicle container, the door has asecond pivoting configuration being different from the first pivotingconfiguration.
 19. A vehicle container assembled according to the systemof claim
 18. 20. A truck comprising: a frame; a cab connected to theframe; a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the frame; and thevehicle container of claim 19 connected to the frame.
 21. A method forchanging a pivoting configuration of a door pivotally connected to a topportion of a pillar of a vehicle container via a first hinge assembly,the method comprising: unfastening the first hinge assembly from atleast one of the door and the top portion of the pillar of the vehiclecontainer, fastening a second hinge assembly to the at least one of thedoor and the top portion of the pillar of the vehicle container, andpivotally connecting the door to the vehicle container using the secondhinge assembly, the second hinge assembly providing a pivotingconfiguration of the door that is different from the pivotingconfiguration provided by the first hinge assembly.
 22. A door for avehicle container comprising: a panel having left and right bentportions, and a lower bent portion, the panel defining holes in the leftand right bent portions and in the lower bent portion for receivingfasteners; and a portion of a hinge assembly removably connected to thepanel by the fasteners.
 23. The door of claim 22, wherein the portion ofa hinge assembly includes at least one of: a left lower bracketremovably fastened to the left bent portion and to the lower bentportion; and a right lower bracket removably fastened to the right bentportion and to the lower bent portion.
 24. The door of claim 23, whereinthe at least one of the left lower bracket and the right lower bracketincludes an adjustment screw assembly for adjusting a position of thedoor relative to the vehicle container.
 25. The door of claim 22,wherein the panel further comprises an upper bent portion, and whereinthe portion of a hinge assembly further includes: a left upper bracketremovably fastened to the left bent portion and to the upper bentportion, and a right upper bracket removably fastened to the right bentportion and to the upper bent portion.